Automatic gate operation and system status indication for marine barriers and gate systems

A marine barrier gate system comprising:

• a marine gate including a buoyant barrier gate, wherein when the barrier gate is floating in a body of water, it is movable from a closed position where the barrier gate extends from a first attachment point to a second attachment point remote from the first attachment point, to an open position where the barrier gate extends from the first attachment point to a location other than the second attachment point, wherein the first attachment point is attached to a first end of the barrier gate;
• an actuator for moving the barrier gate between the open and closed positions;
• a sensor to generate data relating to a position of the barrier gate between the open and closed positions;
• and
• a controller having a processor for receiving the data from the sensor and processing the data to cause the actuator to move the barrier gate between the open and closed positions, and to detect the position of the barrier gate;
• wherein the sensor comprises a first global positioning system (GPS) sensor disposed at a free end of the barrier gate opposite the first end of the barrier gate to generate data relating to the position of the free end of the barrier gate;
• wherein the system further comprises a second GPS sensor at one of the first and second attachment points, to generate data relating to the position of the corresponding attachment point;
• and
• wherein the processor is for receiving the first and second GPS sensor data and processing the first and second GPS sensor data to detect the position of the barrier gate.